Michael Smith
Ceist:5 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient orthodontists available in each of the health board areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1600/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Orthodontic Treatment.
Mary Coughlan
Ceist:34 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Health the number of orthodontists in each of the health board areas; the number of patients on waiting lists for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1605/95]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:49 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the acceptable waiting period for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1699/95]
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 34, and 49 together.
In the dental health action plan which is now being implemented by my Department it is estimated that a total of nine consultant orthodontists, supported by appropriately trained dental staff, are required by the health board dental service to meet orthodontic treatment needs at secondary care level.
The position in each health board area regarding the recruitment of consultant orthodontists under the action place is as follows:
Mid-Western — A consultant is in post since 1985.
Southern — A consultant took up duty in January 1992.
North-Western — A consultant took up duty in February 1992.
South-Eastern — A consultant took up duty in September 1992.
Western — A consultant took up duty in October 1992.
North-Eastern — The board was again unsuccessful in recent attempts to fill the vacant post through the Local Appointments Commission. The board has made arrangements with private specialists to provide services.
Midland — The board was again unsuccessful in recent attempts to fill the vacant post through the Local Appointments Commission. The board has made arrangements with private specialists to provide services.
Eastern — A joint appointment of a professor-consultant between the Dublin Dental Hospital and the board to replace a recent resignation is expected very shortly. The board is also awaiting a response to advertisements for a further two consultant appointments.
In addition to their own direct clinical involvement the health board consultants organise and carry out a programme of education and training in orthodontic procedures for health board dental staff. These dental staff will provide a high service level of secondary care orthodontic services under the overall direction and supervision of consultants.
My Department and the health boards will continue to develop the orthodontic services over the course of the Dental Health Action Plan so that the level of service provision will be brought to the level of actual treatment need. I expect, however, that, in common with many countries where an orthodontic service is provided free of charge, the demand for treatment will continue to exceed the treatment need.
As the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment are maintained by the health boards I have asked the chief executive officer of each health board to furnish this information to Deputy Coughlan as a matter of urgency, as I think she sought this information.
These patients who have been assessed for treatment by the consultant orthodontist and placed in the category of greatest severity — Category A — should begin treatment straightaway. The optimum time for orthodontic treatment to commence for children outside category A depends on the dental development of each particular child. In most cases this occurs when all the permanent teeth have erupted. Children should commence their treatment as soon as possible after this occurrence. However, treatment can commence at any time afterwards.
Since I am deputising for Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, who is unavoidably absent, there is no reason for any tempestuous storms or anything of the kind between myself and the newly appointed Minister for Health. Nonetheless, his reply to these questions seems to indicate a certain satisfaction with the standard of orthodontic treatment services nationwide which I consider appalling; there is a gross inadequacy in this area; many people with poor dental structures are worried about the lack of receipt of such treatment, not only for aesthetic reasons but about serious dental problems that will ultimately arise. Will the Minister agree there is dire need for additional appointments? Will he also agree that there may well be an even greater need for a new regime for training ordinary dentists, so that greater numbers of these patents could be catered for in another way because the problems are frightening? The problems I encounter in my constituency are such that they require greater urgency of solution than that which appears to have been displayed by the Minister in his reply.
(Limerick East): As Deputy Smith said, he is deputising today for this party spokesperson on Health, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn and I do not want to become involved in any controversy with him. Nonetheless it might be appropriate to remark that Fianna Fáil has been in power continuously for seven years during which there were three successive Fianna Fáil Ministers for Health. Deputy Michael Smith was a Minister for Health. Therefore, I when my colleague, Deputy Howlin, was Minister for Health. Therefore, I would have to take his concern with a certain degree of salt. I was appointed on 15 December last. Therefore, if I show any lack of urgency, how does that reflect on Deputy Michael Smith and his party who have been in Cabinet looking after these affairs in recent years?
While there might always arise certain circumstances with which one might attempt to play politics, I am not doing so now. I am personally concerned at the numbers of people who come to me, informing me that one would need a small fortune to receive orthodontic treatment and many of whom cannot avail of that very expensive service.
I do not want to get into the politics of this but I want new appointments to be treated with greater urgency and consideration given to other ways to address this problem. I am not trying to score political points but we must consider how we should address this problem as it cannot be addressed on the basis of current policy.
(Limerick East): I outlined the position in my reply. However, I will develop policy in the Department of Health to meet health needs as they arise and certainly there is a need in this area.
Am I permitted to ask a question?
I took this question in priority time, Deputy. I am now proceeding to other questions.